Repetition, repetition, repetition – it's the key to learning, and also the key to success in songwriting. In order for something to get stuck in somebody's head, it not only has to be catchy, but they also have to hear it again and again.

Sometimes it can be tempting to change up the chorus lyrics each time — but here are three important reasons you shouldn't.

There are exceptions, of course, but there are very few hit songs that are too smart for their own good. What do I mean by that? Well, I mean too smart for the average listener. Unless you're going for a specific crowd – political songs, college coffee house songs, songs written to display an intimate knowledge of the nuances of music theory, etc. — music that's "too smart" is probably not going to be broadly popular.

Thousands come to Nashville every year with the hopes of making it big in a couple months. More often than not, they go home disappointed – not necessarily because they aren't talented, but because their expectations were completely out of proportion.

In my years here, I've heard repeatedly that Nashville is a “seven-year town,” and from what I've seen in my career, and that of others, the reality bears this out. In this article, I'll delve into why that's the case and what you might be able to expect.

Back before the advent of downloads, the music business was a different place. It didn't take much to get your song heard, at least in Nashville. Getting a song cut – particularly a single – was a lot harder, of course, but the truth is, now it's harder than ever. Here are three ways to actually get a cut – and what is actually involved with each.